The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-07-08
"A FOREMOST NORTH cARoLINlAN.
Paul Darlington Cameron and His In
teresting History.
Especial Correspondence


teresting History.
Especial Correspondeuce.l
RALEIGH, N. c., June 27.
Few families in this country are SO widely
rami6ed as that Of Cameron. The "CIan
Cameron" has always been noted in Scotland,
where all the associations OF romance have
for hundreds OF years surrounded it, The
North Carolina family OF Cameron had as its
ancestor Sir Even Cameron, of that ilk, but
IL. progenitor on American soil was Rev. DR..
John Cameron, Of Farintosh, in the high
lands. He came to Virginia in colonial days,
ard married a niece of Governor Abner Nash
aIi Gen. Francis Nash, both of whom after
wards became distinguished in the war Of the
revolution. During that war DR.. Cameron
was rector of famous old Blandford church.
near Petersburg, Va. William e. Cameron,
the late governor of Virginia, is his great
grandson. DIR. Cameron's eldest son, Dun
can, born in 17T7, moved to North Carolina
and married Miss Rebecca Benneban, the
daughter OF planter who was one of the
largest slave owners in the south. He held
various positions OF Importance, and was
president of the State Bank Of North Caro-
lima. He died in Raleigh in 1853 His Sec
ond son, Paul Darlington Cameron. Is
the subject Of this sketch He is the
wealthiest man i'll North Carolina, and,
indeed, one of the wealthiest i'm the entire
south. He was born in 1903 in the historic.
county Of Orange, at a country sent Of his
father's He was educated torou. ',
partly at the University OF North ca.
and partly at Trinity college, Hurt,
graduating at the latter in 1929. He stu.u
law. but never practiced. He hal vast ss-
tates to manage in North Carolina, Alaln.,. q
and Mississippi He owned no less than 80
sluves. His domains were more than
pihc.,ly, and he managed all his complicated
affairs With justice and prudence and
moderation quite worthy Of prince He be-
came a thorough farmer as well as q man of
finance. He adopted the best met ho.ls of
farming. and also advocated the intrs.,.,i ion
and general use Of agricultural naci,,... nv.
He was the founder Of the first agricultural |
society organized in North Carolina, and l,e- |
csnie its first president He took ai extreme |
interest in internal improvements He was |
prime factor in the construction of the |
North Carolina railway, 224 miles in l.n,th,
at that date one of the most noL..o,e
railway enterprises in the country. |
He became its president and has al |
ways been a director. He likewise
became prominent as director and stock
hoi.!er in other railways. # was said of Mr..
Cameron that his care OF his slaves was un-
surpassed i'll any Of the fifteen slave holding
states, and that his army Of bondmen al-
ways received such humane treatment that
their devotion was equal 10 warm personal
'ri risliip. family Of slaves was in 1857
devised to him by friend "for enla,,cipa-
tion." He settled them in Liberia, under The
care OF the American Colonization society,
them with food and n house for n |
year and giving them $l 00e In gold for an
outfit. In two years they all returned from
Africa and presented themselves at Mr..
CaIneron's house, asking him to take u.ein
back as slaves. This strange story ia youcI,td
for by one OF the best known writers in tha
state. The war came and swept away Mr..
Cameron's slaves and caused the loss OF mucl,
other property. But it never ruined him, as
it did SO many Others At its close he was
one of the very few southern planters whom
found free from debt He WAS
Yet almost millionaire. He az once re- t
established his fortunes on the new basis, and,
though in bis 57th year, gave them all the
care which an ordinary man Of 40 could give.
lust prior to the war MIR. Cameron made tho
Of the state gift of many
thousand dollars in order to. complete Ger
tain buildings In 1875 the university was o
WICK ies ouhoihBs OUT Oh repair, its nnances
more than depressed. Mr.. Cameron again
came forward and gave liberally. The build
ngs were repaired and the university re-
established. In 1SS4-5 he again gave large
'nms for the completion Of the Memorial III i
1t the university. He Is capital s,4-nltr
md writer, and retains his business ability at
IN age when other men are ssnile. He is al
ltost the last representative OF class OF fa-
neus s0utheWers His possessions lie in all
ARTS Of ths south, and his investments e,,-
proximate ~, 600 ,000. Mr. Cameron ren~ $
he typical southern planter, and his roy Ire
md bright eyes contrast strangely with HIS
aiows hair which crowns noble head
n. A. OLDs